“did cast
their eyes about as if they were ashamed”
-these
were concerned with the judgments of the world; concerned with popularity, prestige
and success.
-after
working so hard and enduring why does the opinion of the world matter so much?
-was the
taste/joy of the fruit not enough to satisfy these people? What were they looking for from the
fruit? Are there other satisfactions
that rival the joy/taste of the fruit?
“cast their
eyes about”
-the
moment we start looking around at others and start comparing we’ve opened
ourselves up to a tragic end. Comparing,
by definition, entails a value judgment and the world’s judgment of happiness
is rarely in line with eternal happiness.
We cannot be ashamed if we refuse to adopt and apply the world’s
comparative measurements.
-what
insights do we gain from this condition?
What do we learn of the fruit and our experience with it?
1. those who obtain the fruit are not
automatically isolated from the temptations of the world. In other words, the fruit is not a guarantee
of salvation. It is not the end and completion
of the journey.
2. the fruit and its indescribable magnificence
(deliciousness), for some, is not unparalleled in desire, in fulfillment, in
gradeur. Some turn away from it wanting
“more”.
3. there is a rival to the fruit, no matter how
glorious it was. There are counter
forces in the world which pull at us.
Even for something as magnificent as the fruit, there is opposition in
all things.
4. ultimately we are not won by outside forces
(the fruit is an object outside of us) but by that which we give power to. We set our heart upon the fruit or the
building -we imbue it with value and
influence.
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